SOLUTION: The speed of a bayou near Lafayette, Louisiana is 4 miles per hour. A paddle boat travels 48 miles upstream in the same amount of time it takes to travel 72 miles downstream. Find

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Question 743802: The speed of a bayou near Lafayette, Louisiana is 4 miles per hour. A paddle boat travels 48 miles upstream in the same amount of time it takes to travel 72 miles downstream. Find the speed of the boat in still water.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +s+ = the speed of the boat in still water
+s+%2B+4+ = speed going downstream
+s+-+4+ = speed going upstream
Let +t+ = time for both trips
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Going upstream:
(1) +48+=+%28+s+-+4+%29%2At+
Going downstream:
(2) +72+=+%28+s+%2B+4+%29%2At+
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This is 2 equations and 2 unknowns, so you
can solve for +s+ and +t+